What's In a Word - EP

About The Christians

Beginning as an a cappella trio, the socially conscious soul group the Christians originally comprised brothers Garry, Russell, and Roger Christian. In 1986, the Liverpool, England natives were joined by former Yachts and It's Immaterial frontman Henry Priestman, the first of many lineup changes that occurred over three decades of sporadic activity. The group achieved their greatest success in 1987 and early 1988, when their self-titled debut album for the Island label spawned five Top 40 U.K. pop singles: "Forgotten Town," "Hooverville (And They Promised Us the World)," "When the Fingers Point," "Ideal World," and "Born Again." The follow-up was long in the making, though the wait involved a pair of tremendously successful charity singles. Finally, Colour appeared in early 1990 and topped the U.K. chart on the strength of "Words," "I Found Out," and "Greenbank Drive." After 1992's harder-edged Happy in Hell failed to be as successful, the Christians turned to solo and collaborative work. Roger Christian died of a brain tumor in 1998, but the group returned the following decade with Prodigal Sons (2003), Speed of Life (2012), and We (2015). Additionally, their first two albums were reissued in 25th anniversary editions. ~ Jason Ankeny